A jury has heard either punches or a kick to the head could have caused the fatal injury which led to the death of a man after an attack in a Wymondham supermarket.

Nick Singh, also known as Nick Rogers, was assaulted by Lee Monk, 20, and his uncle John Monk, 44, after the three men met while shopping in the store at Wymondham, shortly after 7.30pm on July 17.

The 26-year-old died in hospital the following day.

Lee Monk, of Silfield Road, Wymondham, and John Monk, of Albini Way, Wymondham, have gone on trial at Norwich Crown Court after they pleaded not guilty to Mr Rogers’s murder on July 18.

Giving evidence Dr Benjamin Swift, a home office pathologist, who carried out the post mortem examination, confirmed the cause of Mr Rogers death was 1a, traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage, 1b, rupture of right vertebral artery and 1c blunt force trauma to the head.

The jury heard the tearing of vertebral artery, which resulted in the haemorrhage, is often caused by a “violent twisting” of the head.

Dr Swift agreed that a punch or kick could cause the violent twisting.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, asked Dr Swift, who has seen CCTV footage of the attack, whether he was able to make any assessment as to whether it was the punches landed by both John and Lee Monk or the kick by Lee Monk that resulted in the fatal injury.

Dr Swift said it was difficult to make that assessment.

Mr Jackson asked if there was “any possibility of a cumulative effect” or a “build up” from the blows landed by both defendants causing the fatal injury.

Dr Swift admitted it was possible that one impact, a punch to the side of the head, could have “started a tear that then progressed further by further blows such as a kick”.

In cross examination Jude Durr, defending Lee Monk, asked whether it was right that while bruising and abrasions were among the injuries identified, there were no fractures found.

Dr Swift said: “There were no fractures on his body at all.”

Andrew Thompson, defending John Monk, asked whether it was possible whether any injuries could be explained by Mr Rogers’ collapse or medical interventions carried out on him, including CPR while on the floor.

Dr Swift said the injuries he had identified were separate to those he had put down to medical procedures.

He said it was possible that some injuries - but not all - had been the result of a collapse.

Lee Monk and John Monk also deny assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Leo Wardrop on July 17.